The formal signing of the Partnership Programme Contract between UKvisas and VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd. took place at a reception in London, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Zubin Karkaria, CEO and Managing Director, Kuoni Travel (India) signed the contract on behalf of VFS Global. Mark Sedwill, Director UKvisas signed the contract on behalf of UKvisas. Lord Triesman, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs presided over the function.

Mid-February 2007, UKvisas announced the results of the Partnership Programme in which VFS Global, a subsidiary of the Kuoni Travel Holding Ltd., was awarded the contract to perform outsourced visa support services in respect of the provision of the visa and entry clearance applications in seven geographical regions outlined by UKvisas.

The UKvisas contract value is worth over GBP 200 million (approximately CHF 475 million) over a five year period. This contract was awarded to VFS Global in the face of intense competition from a number of large Fortune 500 companies. VFS Global would start operations in April 2007, in line with its commitment, with rollout activities expected to continue until November 2007.

VFS Global has the honour and privilege of having worked with UKvisas since 2002. As at the end of 2006, the association was restricted to 12 countries: India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Doha, Indonesia, Ghana, Nigeria, Russia and Thailand. With this contract, the scope expands to a much larger range of countries in South Asia, Southeast Asia, North Asia, Africa, Middle East as well as the United Kingdom and further countries which are part of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). VFS Global will thereby establish its locations in 19 additional countries, taking its international presence to a total of 39 countries world wide.

Reacting to the award of this contract, Mr Zubin Karkaria said: VFS Global has been catapulted into the big league. It would be fair to state that VFS Global has consolidated its position as the largest company in the world providing outsourcing services to diplomatic missions world wide.